Interesting Historical Tidbit

[Fox Creek Kid]

The other day I was reading the relatively new book:

http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Fights-Little-known-Skirmishes-Frontier/dp/0878425497/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_5/179-6223545-4262006

which I highly recommend.

Anyway, Michno states that circa. 1857 a military ordinance was passed that enabled soldiers to sell and keep the proceeds from horses captured from the hostiles if no one could lay legal claim to said horses. I had never read this before and it caused me to ponder. I could see where this would encourage soldiers as they could make a helluva lot of money when military pay was meager. I also could see where it could cause problems if abused by greedy & unethical soldiers. Had anyone else read of this before? 

[TallBaldBellied]

Off the top of the bald pate, and from an increasingly unreliable memory, (old age, can't remember s**t).   I, for some reason, think this originated during the border wars of the Upper Ohio Valley.  Booty and plunder from raided Indian villages and cities, auctioned to troops that participated in the brief campaigns, then sold to whosomever.

Wife has recently 'donated' my 'useless theological and history books to various organizations.  'Dark and Bloody River' and 'Sorrow in our Hearts' come to mind.  Both by Eckert, not actual history, but well researched, and with footnotes.

[Shotgun Franklin]

Officers have at times been allowed to claim captured 'enemy' property. There's very good chance that the prospect of capturing 'Rebel' cotton in Brownsville led to the last battle of the War of Northern Agression at Palmito Ranch in deep South Texas. Unfortunately Federal Troops ran up against an Ol' Indian Fighter, RIP Ford, comanding Texas Forces and things went bad on'm.